TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ECHEVERRIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 2000 (VIS) - Below is the text of a telegram sent by the Pope to Archbishop Jose Mario Ruiz Navas of Portoviejo, Ecuador, for the death at the age of 87 of Cardinal Bernardino Echeverria Ruiz O.F.M., archbishop emeritus of Guayaquil.

"Having received the sad news of the death of the dear Cardinal Bernardino Echeverria Ruiz O.F.M., archbishop emeritus of Guayaquil, I offer my fervent prayers for the eternal repose of one who presided, with great commitment and through long years of episcopal ministry, first in the church of Ambato, after its erection as a diocese, and then in the archdiocese of Guayaquil. He later also accepted the task of apostolic administrator of the diocese of Ibarra, a demonstration of his pastoral generosity and his absolute readiness to serve the Church.

"In these moments of pain, I spiritually unite myself to the bishops and faithful of Ecuador who have been witnesses of the apostolic dynamism that, in so many ways, the late cardinal displayed. I also unite myself to the Order of Friars Minor who gave this son of St. Francis to the Church. Together with all of them, I invoke the compassionate protection of the Virgin Mary and at the same time, as a sign of grace and peace in the Risen Christ, I impart upon them my apostolic blessing."

TGR;DEATH ECHEVERRIA;...;RUIZ;VIS;20000407;Word: 240;